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Headlines

Hu, Wen congratulate Barack Obama

On Wednesday President Hu Jintao congratulated Barack Obama on his election as US President.

He said developing long-term, healthy and stable Sino-US relations serves the fundamental interests of both countries and people.

He addedthat the relationship was of significance to peace, stability and development throughout the world.

Premier Wen Jiabao also extended his congratulations hoping the Sino-US relationship will make new progress.

Taxi strike in Chongqing

After two days of protest, 9,000 urban cab drivers returned to work in Chongqing.

They were on strike, protesting increased operating costs, shortages of natural gas and high traffic fines.

They were also unhappy about the government's lack of effort to stop unlicensed taxis operating in the city.

Some angry drivers had smashed windows of other taxis that tried to cross picket lines.

Heavy rain, snow kill 51 in Yunnan

Severe flooding and snowstorms have claimed 51 lives in the southwestern regions of China, as weather authorities warned residents to brace for more rain and snow.

Forty-three people are missing in Yunnan province, the local civil affairs office announced Tuesday and more than 60,000 residents have already been evacuated.

Since October 24, heavy rainfall has hit 13 cities and prefectures in central Yunnan, affecting almost 1.3 million people.

Tangerine sales bounce back

Sales of tangerines are recovering following a fruit fly scare that saw record lows in business in mid-October, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Sales of the fruit were hit by reports in Sichuan late last month that 10,000 tons of tangerines had to be destroyed in the province because of fruit flies, including maggots found in supplies.

Sichuan officials refuted the report, saying only 12 tons of tangerines were destroyed.

In-Depth News

Reaction to historic election

Around 1,000 American expats and interested Chinese students and businessmen gathered at a Beijing hotel on Wednesday, they were there for the US Embassy organized presidential election result party to watch the historic election of Barak Obama.

The result was greeted with passionate cheers from most of the assembled crowd and later led to celebrations in many of Beijing's bars.

"Three Direct Links" across Taiwan Straits

Top Chinese mainland and Taiwanese negotiators signed historic agreements in Taipei this week in order to establish "three direct links" - transport, postal service and trade across the Straits.

The agreements were penned during a visit to the island by Chen Yunlin, president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits.

Taipei had banned the "three direct links" in 1949, citing security concerns.

The two sides have previously signed other pacts on travel and trade but most did not allow for direct cross-Straits contact.

It is hoped that the new pacts will strengthen cooperation in the face of the global financial meltdown.

Premier Wen sees worst year of growth

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Saturday that the government needs to find the right balance between maintaining stable economic growth and curbing inflation.

His comments came as China experiences its worst year for growth in three decades.

Chinese economy expanded by 11.9 percent in 2007, but that growth slowed to 9 percent in the third quarter of this year.

In his article published in the Qiushi journal, Wen says that given the situation across the world, it is very difficult to maintain high growth and a low inflation rate in the long run.

Picture News

Tsonga in Shanghai Masters, Nadal bows out

France's o-Wilfried Tsonga earned himself a spot in the Shanghai Masters that starts this weekend, after winning the Paris Masters last weekend.

Tsonga beat defending champion David Nalbandian of Argentina in a thrilling 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 match in front of 14,000 tennis fans.

However, World No. 1 Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Shanghai Masters Cup, citing an knee injury.

Another black history maker

US President-elect Barack Obama wasn't the only black man to make history this week.

Over the weekend McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, at age 23, became Formula 1's youngest and first black world champion when he managed to snag 5th place on the final corner of the Brazilian Grand Prix

Brazil's Felipe Massa, who came second in the season rankings by only a single point, won the race but didn't get enough points to overtake an elated Hamilton who only had to finish 5th or better.

Kim Jong-Il looks healthy

The Democractic People's Republic of Korea released several pictures this week to show that its leader, Kim Jong-il is healthy.

North Korea's official news agency said Kim inspected two military sites, and photos released earlier showed him smiling as he watched a soccer match. The dates of the photographs were not specified.

It was thought that Kim had suffered a stroke and there were concerns about his health.

 

Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.

 

 

Dylan Quinnell is a freelance journalist and photographer from New Zealand who has worked in TV, print, film and online. With a strong interest in international affairs, he has worked in Denmark, Indonesia and Australia, covering issues like the EU, indigenous people and deforestation. Dylan is in Beijing on an Asia New Zealand grant working as a copy editor for the English news department.